ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Business owners in St. Augustine are urging city commissioners to extend the popular Nights of Lights event by two more weeks into January. They say it could save thousands of jobs, but commissioners, as of Tuesday, are rejecting the idea.

Irving Kass, owner of the St. George Inn and Bin 39 Wine Bar, led the charge at the commission meeting. He's asking for an extension to Jan. 25.

"We still have time to make this change, but we have to do it quickly," Kass said.

Kass told commissioners the extension could deliver a $120 million economic boost during a historically slow month for businesses.

"With one action, you can stabilize January, protect jobs, reduce layoffs, and give small businesses the chance," he said to commissioners. "They are not just numbers, they ar

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